Black in Period Films

Those in NY and LA will be able to watch the critically acclaimed film, If Beale Street Could Talk tonight!! Those that don't live in those cities (me included 🙁) will have to wait until Christmas Day to enjoy it. Follow this link to find a search guide for when the film may appear in a city near you.  Give it a search and let us know if it is in your area?

If you look in my draft box you will see a draft for a post about the final cast announcements! HOWEVER, every other day the wonderfully talented Ava DuVernay (aka The Director) introduces a new cast member. So as soon as I created that post it was inaccurate. So I've decided to give you a link to her instagram ... check it out there are great pics of the cast and crew!! But I will also link you to my tumblr posts with comparison pictures of the real life legends and the actors and actresses that will be portraying them in SELMA. Tumblr Posts: 1 2 3 4 5 I'm very excited about this film.

The film is currently in post-production and stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sharon Leal as his wife.  William Sadler is also a part of the cast.  A quick summary: Set in 1850, the story centers on a man named Samuel (Gooding), who attempts to free his family from the brutality of institutionalized slavery, intent on escaping from the tobacco plantation they have been forced to call their home for two generations. Heading north towards Canada, via  the  Underground Railroad , they are tracked by a group of ruthless hired slave hunters, who constantly threaten Samuel and his family's survival.   Peter Cousens  was listed as director. The script is written by  Tim Chey . 

All of the main and supporting characters of this film are white except for one, Charles (played by Afemo Omilami). This post will be about him and his part in this film. We first meet him when he jokingly tells Lewellen (Dakota Fanning) that if she keeps on dancing in the tree she will fall out of it. From the very beginning Charles is a character that speaks his mind. He tells Lewellen that "There's more to singing than just Elvis." and the "Elvis is a white boy singing black music." Through a conversation between Charles and Lewellen's aunt we find out that Charles' mother cared for Lewellen's mother and aunts and uncles when their own mother wouldn't. Charles grew up with Lewellen's mother because of this they are close. At one point in the film Lewellen lashes out at Charles in anger saying "You're just a nigger you know!" He responds calmly telling her that she's the nigger because of how she lets people treat ...

I haven't really done any updates on this film (for my own reasons) so here you go a photo update. PLOT:  With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. This is a film directed and written by Quentin Tarantino. The cast includes Jaime Foxx as the title character Django. Kerry Washington plays his wife Broomhilda. Samuel L Jackson also stars in this film as a character named Stephen.  Almost every review I've seen of this film has been positive. Two actors have already been nominated for Golden Globes for their work. 

Four outlaws with a bounty on each head, set a date for a shootout in Langston, Oklahoma. The last man takes the collective bounty. Violence and mayhem ensue. This film is by The Bullitts .  I'm super excited. It's a Western. Something we don't see a lot of now in Hollywood (let alone with a majority black cast!!) And speaking of cast ... IT IS IMPRESSIVE!! There are so many names I'm just going to post a picture of the IMDb cast list !! Now that's a cast! :)  I am truly excited. 

The four girls that were killed in the bombing. Clockwise from the top left, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair . On this day in history four little girls were killed in a 1963 racist terrorist attack on an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama. There is a wonderful film, 4 Little Girls created by Spike Lee. Click the link to watch it for free!

Detailed SPOILERS  below... beware!! This mini-series is a part of The Catherine Cookson Anthology. I really enjoyed part one of this mini-series. Everything about the costumes and locale was perfectly period. I was never once reminded that I was watching a movie. It felt real. Every moment of it. While there are only 2 Black characters in this miniseries they are very important characters. They turn the McQueens family upside down. While the majority of the cast is not of the African Diaspora, there are major characters that are. So here we go! The movie starts in 1915. It is set in industrial Tyneside during World War I. From the very beginning the tone is set. The costumes and music match the period right on. We meet the McQueens. They receive a letter from Bridgett saying that she has married a sailor named Mr. Patterson. Little do they know Mr. Patterson is African. Her family isn't happy but she stands by her man. When her broth...

Twelve Years a Slave has officially wrapped!!! Here are some pictures I found on the interwebs!!! Do they look beautiful!? I'm rather excited about this film.

I really like how while the main character was a child, the adult characters were still utilized effectively. My favorite adult relationship was between Dr. Shannon and Aunt Polly. Their relationship reminded me of the type that would appear in a classic period drama. We actually meet Dr. Shannon before we meet Aunt Polly. From the way he acts, we can tell that he still has feelings for her. He even mentions the fact that he misses Aunt Polly's smile. This sets us up to know where they are in their relationship. Though others and their own words we learn about their relationship. Five years before the movie takes place, Dr. Shannon and Aunt Polly were a couple. Everything was fine. That is until Dr. Shannon went away to Atlanta. Once settled there he wanted Aunt Polly to come so they could get married. But she refuses she feels responsible for her families businesses. We're not talking about the orphanage. We're talking about me and you. We...

I enjoyed this film very much. The reason I wanted to watch Polly is that its a musical, and anyone that knows me know I love musicals! I can't remember ever watching a musical period film with a majority black cast. I don't have anything bad to say about the film. Everything was in order. Keshia Knight Pulliam  is adorable. The acting from the whole cast is spot on. The musical numbers are brilliant and the costumes are beautiful. As this is a Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad  production, I expected nothing less. Because everything is in such great order I'll be posting specific things I loved about Polly in place of one mega review post. I will however do a quick post of my overall thoughts. Polly is inspired by the novel Pollyanna, there is also a film based on the novel. But as I have neither watched nor read these productions I am judging Polly on its own merits as a film. Pulliam as Polly is amazing....

As I stated in the introductory post , Polly is a musical. A fact that is extremely exciting to me. I can't say I've ever watched a musical period film with a majority black cast. So this is a breath of fresh air.  The movie is set in the 1950's so the music has that feel.  Polly was choreographed by the legendary Debbie Allen, so obviously the dancing is amazing! Polly was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography. Here is a list of the musical numbers: By Your Side- Polly Honey Ain't Got Nothin' On You- Polly, Nancy, & Girls Sweet Little Angel Eyes- Jimmy Bean, Polly, George, Nancy, & Children Something More- Aunt Polly Shine A Light- Mayor Warren, Dr. Shannon, & George Rainbow Maker- Polly, Nancy, & Aunt Polly Stand Up- Reverend Gillis, Dr. Shannon, & Congregation Finale- Company I really enjoyed the musical numbers and the dancing. I found myself wanting to dance while ...

Nelsan Ellis will be playing Martin Luther King Jr. in Lee Daniels' film 'The Butler'! Nelsan Ellis is best known for playing Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood. There is a definite likeness, I approve of this casting. Great job Mr. Daniels!